Pace Wildenstein’s No Photo Policy

by Art Fag City on July 1, 2008 · 12 comments Events

no-photography.jpg
Photograph: James Wagner

James Wagner posted the above image Sunday with the administrative note that Pace Wildenstein shows will not be posted or reviewed on his site, bloggy, and artcal due to their no photo policy. I’m adding my name to his list. Until the gallery’s policy changes I will not review Pace shows on AFC, or for any of the publications I write for including, Time Out NY, ArtReview.com, The L Magazine, and numerous others.

Additional information: James Wagner on photo prohibitions and fair use.

{ 12 comments }

protogenes July 1, 2008 at 6:56 pm

You’re lucky they let you photograph the sign

protogenes July 1, 2008 at 1:56 pm

You’re lucky they let you photograph the sign

martin July 2, 2008 at 12:36 am

i wonder why they decided do make (or enforce) this… i remember taking many photos of roslyn drexler and tara donovan, with no problems. maybe it’s just for this show?

martin July 1, 2008 at 7:36 pm

i wonder why they decided do make (or enforce) this… i remember taking many photos of roslyn drexler and tara donovan, with no problems. maybe it’s just for this show?

Art Fag City July 2, 2008 at 4:45 am

It’s a gallery policy, and not specific to one show. I discussed the gallery’s no photo policy with their PR person last month. According to their publicist there were specific instances that led them to the decision that it be necessary to restrict the general public from taking pictures. Lord knows what they were. The exchange was entirely pleasant, but I just don’t agree with their policy.

Art Fag City July 1, 2008 at 11:45 pm

It’s a gallery policy, and not specific to one show. I discussed the gallery’s no photo policy with their PR person last month. According to their publicist there were specific instances that led them to the decision that it be necessary to restrict the general public from taking pictures. Lord knows what they were. The exchange was entirely pleasant, but I just don’t agree with their policy.

Joanne Mattera Art Blog July 2, 2008 at 2:20 pm

I had no problem when I shot the Bridget Riley show in January, but when I went to shoot the recent Nozkowski installation, the no-photos policy was in effect. I ended up pulling images from their site (which were very good), but I have also made the decision to not write about subsequent shows.

Really, if they’re concerned about their artists’ copyright issues, they shouldn’t post images on their own site, which are legally usable for reportage. And, they’d have to dismantle Google.

Joanne Mattera Art Blog July 2, 2008 at 9:20 am

I had no problem when I shot the Bridget Riley show in January, but when I went to shoot the recent Nozkowski installation, the no-photos policy was in effect. I ended up pulling images from their site (which were very good), but I have also made the decision to not write about subsequent shows.

Really, if they’re concerned about their artists’ copyright issues, they shouldn’t post images on their own site, which are legally usable for reportage. And, they’d have to dismantle Google.

Brian Sherwin myartspace July 6, 2008 at 9:34 am

Very odd. Could it be that they want to have control over who covers their exhibits as far as the press is concerned?

Brian Sherwin myartspace July 6, 2008 at 4:34 am

Very odd. Could it be that they want to have control over who covers their exhibits as far as the press is concerned?

Art Fag City July 6, 2008 at 9:35 pm

It’s a practical way of keeping track of their press. I don’t know how much of that has to do with this though. I suspect it just has to do with them not wanting poor representations of the work posted on flickr. The thing is, everyone knows what they are getting when they go to that site, so I really don’t see what the problem is. If I were them, I’d invest my resources in improving their shitty website. A wealth of professionally taken images available online would obviously solve any issues they had with the random ones people are taking.

Art Fag City July 6, 2008 at 4:35 pm

It’s a practical way of keeping track of their press. I don’t know how much of that has to do with this though. I suspect it just has to do with them not wanting poor representations of the work posted on flickr. The thing is, everyone knows what they are getting when they go to that site, so I really don’t see what the problem is. If I were them, I’d invest my resources in improving their shitty website. A wealth of professionally taken images available online would obviously solve any issues they had with the random ones people are taking.

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